My Canon EOS 200D Experience: A Mixed Bag of Delights and Disappointments

I've got a friend who's an astrologer, and he always says, 'Don't know what to get your twin? Get them tech!' My husband and I are total twinsies when it comes to tech. When the opportunity to upgrade from my 550D to the 200D came along, we jumped at it.

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Let's get real – I'm going to criticize first.

About the bundles If you're old enough to remember how the 550/600/650D used to be sold, you'll know what I'm talking about. Back then, cameras came in a few different bundles – body, 18-55 kit, 18-135 kit, 18-55 + 75-300 kit. And each one had its own unique charm. They were all sold officially, so you could get a genuine Canon product with a warranty. Fast forward to the 200D: there's only one bundle – the 18-55 kit. But what really caught my eye is that there's a difference between the colors and their bundles! The silver and white 200D come with the new 18-55 4-5.6/f lens with image stabilization and an STM motor, while the black 200D gets the old 18-55 3.5-5.6/f lens without image stabilization and a regular autofocus. So, if you're planning to buy the 200D for video, it's worth paying extra for the STM.

Everything else is standard, though – the box comes with the camera, lens, battery, charger, and strap.

BeautyOn size, weight, and exterior design When I was told this was a small model, the first question was: where's the tiny part? This thing isn't much smaller than my old 550D, and it's actually bigger than the 100D. It's not super light either. For reference, my work kit 6D+Sigma50mm weighs a whopping 1360 grams! The Canon 200D + battery + 18-55 kit weighs around 685 grams.When it comes to the exterior design, the first thing that stands out is the pretty low-quality plastic. It looks a lot like the kind used in toys. I'm not a fan of the tactile feel of the buttons, and the overall layout of the controls isn't super intuitive. Of course, if you're only using the A+ mode, it's probably fine. But I prefer semi-automatic modes and M mode - it's hard to quickly adjust settings. The real eyesore on this grey camera is the black viewfinder and the end of the lens.

A Small Thing and My Older Brother on the ScaleDisappointments: When you buy a new device, you assume all your old lenses and accessories will work with it. But that's not the case here. Buckle up, folks, I'm about to rant. The Sigma 50mm 1.4/f EX is totally incompatible. In Live View mode, after trying to take a photo, the camera would freeze solid. The only solution was to yank out the battery. The fix: disable any correction settings for this lens in the camera's settings. That seemed to do the trick.The RC-6 remote, which we've been through hell and back with, saved the day on my 550D and 6D. Now it's officially useless for this camera. It's not supported, and it looks like it never will be. That's a bummer. Now I'm stuck with remote control only via my phone and Wi-Fi or buying a new remote (which is pricey). NFC, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi - we seasoned Wi-Fi users on the 6D were stoked about this feature. But I remember my struggles with the Xiaomi and 6D combo. I read all the guides, and everyone said NFC pairing is a breeze. I was excited, thinking my phone's NFC tag would make it a piece of cake. But no matter how I tried to pair it, the result was zilch. Then I was told Bluetooth would be a great alternative. Let's just say it took some effort to get it to work via Wi-Fi.

The battery LP-E17 has a tiny capacity, but that's probably a trade-off for its small size and weight. Want a spare? Good luck buying one for under $3,000.

Now, let's talk about the fun and creative part: my experience using this camera and the results I got.

The camera out of the box delivers a high-quality, sharp image. I was pleasantly surprised. The colors and white balance were spot on, no complaints there.

The rotating touchscreen is more of a luxury, but it's super convenient for video recording. I loved the focus point selection option. Plus, you can adjust the settings by tapping on the screen. My only gripe is that there's no proximity sensor (I guess that's a trade-off for the compact size). So, when you hold the camera up to your face, the screen doesn't dim. It's annoying at night or in low-light conditions.

The continuous autofocus in video mode didn't give me any issues (when using the 18-55mm STM lens).

The focus speed through the viewfinder and touchscreen is incredibly fast. The autofocus is also quite aggressive. However, it can be finicky in low-light conditions. Sometimes, it gets really wonky.

I found the Av and Tv modes to be relatively easy to use. However, I still can't figure out how to quickly switch between shutter speed and aperture in Manual mode without taking my eye off the viewfinder.

Wi-Fi is a godsend for Instagram enthusiasts who want to post photos while the camera's still warm. And, remote shooting is way faster and more seamless than on the 6D.

Here's an example: a photo taken on the 200D, edited on Lightroom on my phone, and uploaded to the internet in just 5 minutes!

BEFORE AND AFTERFull (taken, by the way, with the Helios, which refused to play nice with the 550D): Helios 44M + macro ring. 1/1000 ISO1600 (shot with phone in Lightroom) I've gotta say, the camera is a breeze to use - it's super intuitive. The default interface is pretty straightforward, but you can disable it for standard modes in the menu. Now, I have to admit, I was skeptical about the 18-55 kit lens at first. I thought it was just a novelty, but I've attached some unedited photos taken with it below. I wanted to show you the original sharpness and white balance (as much as possible). I took these photos specifically for this review, and you can check the EXIF data in the description.

f/5.6 55.0mm 1/800 ISO100 (18-55mm, без обработки) f/4.0 18.0mm 1/4000 ISO100 (18-55mm, без обработки) f/5.6 55.0mm 1/80 ISO125 (18-55mm, без обработки) f/5.6 55.0mm 1/200 ISO100 (18-55mm, без обработки) f/4.0 18.0mm 1/30 ISO1250 (18-55mm, без обработки) And let me tell you, playing with the Helios lens and a macro ring (I've got the processing details in each shot's description) was an absolute blast. <\/a> My Helios 44M + Macro Lens Setup - 1/2000 ISO1600 (Shot from my phone in Lightroom)<\/div><\/div> <\/a> Helios 44M + Macro Lens - 1/250 ISO1600 (No editing)<\/div><\/div> <\/a> Helios 44M + Macro Lens - 1/250 ISO1600 (No editing)<\/div><\/div> I've also included a small photo gallery below, which I'll be updating occasionally - if you want to know more about the lenses or settings used, just let me know:

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18-55 18-55 18-55 макрокольца 18-55 18-55 75-300 18-55My Verdict is pretty mixed, and it's mainly because of the pricing strategy. If you're looking for your first camera to learn with, you might want to consider the Nikon or other mirrorless options. But if you're already a Canon user, like I am, and you're willing to splurge, this is a solid choice.

I don't regret buying it at all.

This thing has become my go-to camera when I don't want to lug out my big DSLR for client shoots. It's turned out to be a fantastic family camera that both my husband and I enjoy using.

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Thanks for reading my review!

Hope you find some inspiration in these shots!

And remember: the best camera is the one you have with you

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Think you'd also like:

Cameras:

My first point-and-shoot: Canon PowerShot A 720 IS

My first DSLR: Canon EOS 550D

Upgrading to full frame: Canon EOS 6D

Lenses:

The power of glass and metal: Gelios 44m

And it's called 'Universal': Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

A cheap but decent option: Canon 50mm f/1.8

A quirky little lens: Lensbaby Muse Double Glass

My go-to lens for the next few years: Sigma AF 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM